The San Saba Lady Dillos had a great week of basketball as they captured a nice road win and took Championship honors in their own tournament.

We traveled to McGregor last Tuesday and soundly defeated the Lady Bullogs. We were a bit rattled to start the game especially after their big post Sha Brown quickly scored six points and the Lady Bulldogs had a 8-3 lead early in the first quarter.

We responded and got ahead 10-8 late in the first quarter and never looked back. We won 67-49 despite allowing 34 points to their post player.

Our guards “hounded” the Lady Bulldog guards and we scored several easy baskets with our pressure defense. We did a great job of pushing the ball and scoring in transition.

Both Shelby Hardy and Haylee Oliver scored 20 points while Calea Turner added 14 as well. Oliver lead us in the boards area with 5 while Calea Turner had 8 steals and Shelby Hardy added 6 assists.

We opened up our tournament with a convincing win over the Lady Warriors of Ingram.We scored 30 points in the first quarter and never looked back. We were up 54-19 at halftime.

Once again all of our guards did a great job of pressuring the ball. Katy Davis had a big night in the points netting 24 while Hardy and Oliver contributed 13 each. Tarah Crosby also tossed in 10 big points.

Friday morning we battled with the Lady Hornets from Gatesville and beat them 62-30. We were up 30-6 and played really well in the first two quarters.

Katy Davis scored 17 points along with 14 and 12 from Shelby Hardy and Haylee Oliver. Danessa Vasquez added 10 points off the bench. I’m so proud of our “young uns” off the bench-Danessa Vasquez, Bianca Zepeda, and Johna Reavis. Nicole Sears, our Jammin Junior, also provides a great lift off the bench as well. Nicole is still rounding into form with every game and we’re so glad to have her!!!! I’m predicting by District that she’ll be 100%!!

Friday evening we tussled with the Lady Bulldogs from Burnet in the semifinals. We recorded a 52-34 win.I was a bit worried about Burnet’s guard play but we turned up the heat on them as well and forced several turnovers. Haylee Oliver had a big night hitting for 21 while Shelby Hardy followed with 19. We played really well and were up 36-17 at halftime.

For the Championship we faced an old nemesis from last year in Liberty Hill. We’ve had some good battles with the Hill since I’ve been in San Saba and we suffered a heartbreaking loss at their place last year losing on a shot at the buzzer. How sweet revenge was this year as we garnered a 60-45 lead.

I was a bit worried about our stamina and legs after playing two games the day before. I could tell real early into the game that we were probably going to be “running on fumes”!!

Plus, Liberty Hill has a really solid guard that handles pressure well.We didn’t force as many turnovers in this game as previous ones but we rattled their guard just enough and forced her into some bad shots. We were up 34-25 at halftime and pushed our lead to fourteen at the end of the third quarter, 49-35.

We had four players in double figures with Haylee Oliver leading the way with 23 followed by Calea Turner and Katy Davis with 12 each and Shelby Hardy added 10. Tarah Crosby and Calea Turner did a great job of pressuring the Parks kid all night long.

Nicole Sears, Bianca Zepeda and Danessa Vasquez provided valuable minutes off the bench and Johna Reavis and Jaena Edwards encouraged and supported all players during the game. This win was a total team effort and how sweet it was.

Katy Davis, Calea Turner, Shelby Hardy, and Haylee Oliver each made the All Tournament Team. I was proud of these four for the awards they received but I was proudest of our TEAM. We don’t care who scores or receives individual honors, we just want to WIN!!! It takes each member of our team for us to be successful whether one of them plays two minutes or thirty minutes!!! TEAM (Together Everyone Acheives More).

Our JV finished up as consolation champs as they downed Jarrell 28-26. Samantha Henry hit a big shot at the end of the game to secure the win for the young Dillos.

Silvia Jimenez, Ashley Pulatie, Paige Chambers, and Rebecca Paredes were sparkplugs on defense. In the first round game we were defeated by Brady by a score of 27-17. According to Coach Stowe, we got into foul trouble real early and had a hard time recovering from our early miscues.

Now, time for a big round of THANK YOUS!! First of all, a huge tournament can’t be a success with the unsung help of so many. Here it goes. To the best hospitality person in the State of Texas, Laynie Johnson!!! You’re awesome and our hospitality room was great. To the best High School Principal and Athletic Director- Dave Underwood and Joel Johnson- thanks for helping organize this huge event and for getting people to work and for filling in wherever necessary.

A big thanks to our superintendent, Mrs. Glaze for allowing us to have this huge tournament. Thanks to these people as well- Mrs. Cromer for doing the brackets, Mrs. Dyer for setting up the brackets on the computer since I’m pretty weak in the computer department and for typing duties as well, Germinia and Phyllis for sweeping the gym floor and keeping the dressing rooms spotless, all coaches who helped with the books and clock, Emma Stewart for running the gate, Jason “POPS” Howard for manning the mic during pre-game ceremonies (Man, I’m glad the Spurs didn’t hire him, he’s awesome with a capital “A” Baby!!!)

All parents, patrons and SSISD for donating food and drinks to our Hospitality room, Suzie and Luis and her crew for running the concession stand, and for Coach Stowe who did a great job running the JV tourney all by her lonesome in her first year.

You all are greatly appreciated. The Lady Dillos will have played Llano and Mason when this article comes out, hopefully we entered the Holidays with two big wins. The Lady Dillos would like to wish all a Happy and safe Turkey Day. We also want Jordan McBee to know that he’s in our thoughts and prayers and we wish him a speedy recovery!!!!!